ITH Poker Forum

[panga]

I'm a recent returnee to internet poker and I've been shocked/disappointed to discover that the pickings are not as easy as they were in 2005 when i stopped playing.


Before: heavily beating (roi 50%+) $5, $10 beating $20 SNGs at Absolute. Super tight early, look to double up from one of the 5 guys who thing A5os is a premium hand. Aggressive after BB = 100 (steal blinds and raise down to A8, KJ). Very aggressive in pots at all stages.

Usually I would be 4500> greater before the bubble.

Mostly wins; some other places and the odd bust/suckout

Easy money / Happy days

Now: $5 at FT Only 42 games played roi is 31% but I feel like I've been a bit lucky as I think (my impression) that I'm winning more flips and I've definitely sucked out a few times and then gone on to win.

Impressions: still get 1/2 retard and 1/2 loose weak players but the others seem to be much better. Often 3 players who will only play premium hands. The games seem much tighter, comparable to $20 in 2005.

Although the starting hands ppl play are tighter, there still seems to be weakness after the flop and aggression is taking down pots but I'm getting CRed more and not getting paid off as regularly when I have hands.

Also there are usually 1-2 players who are multitabling and play TAG but ABC.

I kept finding myself one of several tight players and if I don't get cards early I end up flipping when BB = 100 far too often for my taste. Addditionally the fools have doubled up other players and my stack is smaller which inhibits my natural bullying tendancies.

The tight players are often scared also so blind stealing seems easier than before esp BB >80.

The only major change I've made to my game is to play a (very) wide range early when I can l face 1/2 fools. So limping with 87s in LP if fools already limped. Raising an unopened pot with A8 on button when fool is BB etc. (obviously depends on exact naature of fool).

This has been pretty successful and often I get the easy money before they inevitably bust out with third pair.

I'm also more aggressive against the tight players and will often steal/raise when BB.100 regardless of my stack-size. I'm steal-raising on the button more often than not and often from CO.

Against the multi-tablers I respect their bets but will bluff readily if they check to me.

Do I seem like I'm on the right track?
What else has changed?
Is FT soft/tough as a site?

Panga x

[apologies if I'm out of turn starting a new thread for this but i cant find a thread/article describing the changes over time. I'd love to read one.]

[panga]

So a few more days and i think i've answered my own questions. I'lkl keep ploughing the lonely furrough that is this thread for now.

I've cut down onplaying the 'early-game marginal hands v donk' hands as too often i don't hit and end up making silly bluffs leaving me with c1100 chips. Now I'm just watching to see who calls down w/3rd pair or overs and hope to use it later when I am in a pot.

Multi-tablers seem mostly very easy to read early (tight abc) . A suprising number of them seem to be not-great players though. I wonder if its boredom that makes them mt.

Aggression is paying for me. I am suprised how many ppl just fold fold fold when the bb >150. Waiting for premiums whilst 2/3 stack dwindles and more aggressive players keep stealing blinds. Then they shove and nobody calls.

Addditionally a lot of the 'correct' players seem eminently bluffable. I am betting silly amount of flops and not getting called as often as i should.

And why would anyone do what I saw just now which is call a re-re raise all in with 22 on the 2nd hand? WTF?

So my conclusion is that there are more tight/weak players; less outright donks; more multi-tablers. The game is slightly harder overall but very beatable.

Waiting till BR is $350 before going up to $10. Will add another (pointless rambling) post then.

Peace,

Panga

[nukeduke]

II'lkl keep ploughing the lonely furrough that is this thread for now.

The game has definitely changed in a big way over the last five years. Once Congress took away easy deposit methods for US players the pool of new players began to shrink dramatically. Many poor to mediocre players decided depositing wasn't worth the hassle.

[panga]

I am losing and I'll sum up why in one word:

discipline

I know its bad play, but I'm frustrated.

I know the guy has had the goods every time he's raised, but I can push him off this pot.

I know he has a straight but maybe my 2 pair is still good.

I am playing out of boredom and therefore looking for action and playing like a guy I'd love to play. I'm trying to force the game and exert my control when in reality there are times to accept my impotence.

3 times running I busted in 4th (3 paid). All three times I was trying to push square pegs into round holes because my greatest attribute (equanimity and non-emotional play) was absent. 2 of the three games I was chip leader and the BB was <100.

The third game I was on tilt properly and sucked out twice to get to 4000 before bluffing off my whole stack against a calling station.

I am convinced that if my wife was giving me more [any] attention that I would have won at least two of these SNGs. Damn her!

Resolution: I will not play when I am frustrated with life; I will only play when my emotions are maneageable enough.

Thx nukeduke for your post

Peace,

Panga

[edited for 'tard typing]

[a10fouru]

You really should take the word "bluff" out of your vocabulary while playing these. You're going to run into "How could he possibly be calling here when it's virtually impossible for me to be bluffing?" But both will happen. lay your good hands for value. Don't get bullish with your upper suited connectors..they play well multiways and can easily stack a donk.

Don't get tricky or fancy. Play for value.

Finally don't underestimate your opponents' to play poorly and get lucky...helps keep the tilt in check

[PeterRhodan]

For what it is worth you will find the $10 SnGs much the same just tighter earlier. Perhaps 1 more solid player and 1 less donk per table